The episode opens with Rosita coming to Siddiq’s house just before Dante is about to stab him dead. Unable to do so, Dante comes outside. Rosita gets suspicious after she starts hearing noises from behind the door, which prompts Dante to flash a knife, thus revealing his evil intent. She puts Coco in a bath, and the two get into a fight. Rosita stabs him and also kills walker Siddiq just before he gets to Coco. In the nick of time, Rosita is also able to knock out Dante for interrogation.
Shortly thereafter, Daryl and Father Gabriel question the double agent. Predictably, we learn that Dante has been tasked with causing paranoia in the community. He poisoned the water, sprayed the “Silence the Whisperers” graffiti and killed Cheryl by smothering her with a pillow. Knowing this, Gabriel goes to his cell later on and lectures him about second chances. He decides Dante doesn’t deserve one, so he stabs him several times.
These events are obviously traumatic for Rosita, who nearly dies fighting walkers outside the gates after suffering through flashbacks. Eugene comes to save her while offering basic condolences for Siddiq’s passing but then leaves the situation quickly, leaving Rosita feeling slighted. The same goes for Gabriel. When Rosita tells him about her near-death encounter outside, Gabriel feels she’s being weak. Rosita, on the other hand, feels she’s not being listened to.
Elsewhere in the plot, there are big problems at Oceanside. Apparently someone’s been messing with the community security system, so Luke, Michonne, Scott and Judith are sent out to investigate the situation. On the way Luke suggests stopping at a library to get books for Judith, and he’s attacked by zombies there. A mysterious stranger saves him. At Oceanside, we later learn that this stranger is a man named Virgil. He’s the one messing with Oceanside’s security in an effort to get a boat so he can return home. Apparently he lives on an island naval base full of guns. He says that if Michonne gives him a ride, she can take weapons with her that will help defeat Alpha’s horde. She agrees and leaves with Virgil.
Speaking of the horde, things get interesting when Gamma reveals to Aaron that the Hilltop Whisperer baby is her nephew. In exchange for providing intel, she wants to see him. She tells Aaron the supposed location of Alpha’s horde, which prompts Daryl, Carol, Aaron, Connie, Jerry, Kelly and Magna to check it out. When they approach the spot, Alpha lures Carol to a cave. The others follow, fall in and find a collection of thousands of walkers inside. The episode ends on that cliffhanger.
All things considered, then, the Season 10 midseason finale delivers on its promise of big plot twists and gruesome deaths. But, heading into 2020’s episodes, there are still lots of questions worth pondering. Is Virgil truly Alexandria’s new ally? Where is Lydia? How does the group survive its encounter with the horde? Those details likely won’t arrive until early February.
The Walking Dead Season 10 midseason finale airs November 24 on AMC.
What are your thoughts on episode 8 of The Walking Dead based on these spoilers? Are you happy with this description of the midseason finale? Tell us in the comments section!
